Variable flame gas lighter



April 12, 1966 YOSHIO KANAMARU 3,245,234

VARIABLE FLAME GAS LIGHTER Filed June 28, 1965 a Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIIII INVENTOR YOSHIO KANAMARU ATTORNEYS April 1966 YOSHIO KANAMARU 3,245,234

VARIABLE FLAME GAS LIGHTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG. 6

FIG. 5

Filed June 28, 1965 FIG. 4

F /6. /0 FIG.

YOSHIO KANAMARU Wm Wines INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States. Patent VARIABLE FLAME GAS LIGHTER; Yoshio Kanamaru, Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,367 5 Claims. (Cl. 677.1)

The present invention relates generally to a gas fueled lighter, and in particular to a variable-flame feature thereof enabling convenient lighting of cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

' As is well known, smokers generally find it quite diflicult to light pipes with ordinary gas or liquid fueled cigarette lighters because of the necessity to hold such conventional lighters upside down. With the use of the present lighter construction, the necessity of holding the lighter upside down is eliminated, as the flame may be selectively positioned either vertically (cigarettes and cigars) or horizontally (pipes). In this manner, pipes may be easily lighted without twisting the hand or depositing carbon on the lighter, as frequently occurs when conventional cigarette lighters are used by pipe smokers. Although the present invention provides for pipe lighting, the flame is normally positioned for use with cigarettes and cigars. Simplicity of construction and adaptability for use in lighting either cigarettes, cigars or pipes distinguish the presentinvention from other known lighters.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide gas lighters and flexibility enabling their use with cigarettes, cigars and pipes. i i

Another object of the present invention is to provide gas lighters with a variable 'flame feature enabling the convenient lighting of cigars, cigarettes and pipe with a construction characterized by its simplicity in construction.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide for the convenient lighting of either cigarettes, cigars or pipes with the use of a gas lighter construction characterized by simplicity in design and economy of construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide gas lighters with a variable flame feature produced by flame deflecting systems of varying design enabling the user to conveniently and selectively light cigarettes, cigars and pipes.- i I Still a further object of the present invention is to provide in a gas lighter construction various flame deflecting mechanisms, characterized by their simplicity in design and economy of construction, for enabling the-user to conveniently light pipes, as well as cigarettes and cigars. A

Other objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the ensuing specification and attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a suggested gas lighter construction provided with a first embodiment of the novel flame deflection device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating the uppermost portion of the gas lighter construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the component parts of the FIG. 1 embodiment of flame deflecting device, together with details of a first embodiment of sliding actuating assembly;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevation in section illustrating the first embodiment of flame detecting system;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation in section illustrating a second embodiment of the flame deflecting system;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation in section illustrating a third embodiment of theflame deflecting system;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation in section illustrating a fourth embodiment of the flame deflecting system;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating a second embodiment of the sliding actuating assembly for diverting the direction of flame;

FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention for varying the direction of flame in which the flame diverging member or cover of the system is vertically pivotable;

FIG. 10 illustrates in side elevation still another embodiment of the flame deflecting system in which the cover is horizontally pivotable; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of still a further embodiment of the flame deflecting system providing for horizontal pivoting.

At the heart of the present invention is the realization that changes in direction of properly depressurized jetting gas fuel, either ignited or not, may be achieved in lighters by employing relatively simple flame deflecting systems. As envisioned by the present invention, the burner nozzle and its associated cover may be designed in numerous ways to achieve the desired result of changing the direction of emitted flame from vertical cigarette and cigar use to horizontal pipe use. Utilizing these concepts, ignition of the flame may occur either before -or after the fuel is emitted from the burner.

As seen in FIG. 1, the body of the gas lighter is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. While rotation of the spark producing flint wheel is achieved with gear 12, the flow of fuel from burner nozzle 14 is regulated by snutfer cap 16. As the general structure and standard operation of such lighters is well known, no further elaboration is considered necessary, reference to U.S. Patents Nos. 2,419,889 and 2,697,339 being considered sufficient for purposes of further clarification, if desired.

Control of the direction of flame emerging from burner nozzle 14 is achieved in the present invention with the use of a cover, such as that of the first embodiment of invention of FIGS. l3, generally designated by the reference numeral 18. Cover 18 is designed to be moved along surface 20 of lighter 10 with the use of a supporter or actuating assembly 22 which is secured to cover 18 with bolt 24. As seen in FIG. 2, while the lower surface 26 of cover 18 rests in abutting relationship against the top of wall 20, upper flange 28 of supporter 22 rests against the lower surface of wall 20, movement of both is directly connected to a bolt 38 which protrudes through a slit 40 in the side wall of the lighter. In this manner, movement of cover 18 along wall 20 is achieved merely by pushing bolt 38 from one side to another.

As previously indicated, the design of the cover may take many and varying forms. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, a conduit or hollowed out portion 42 is located within the bottom of ledge 44 of cover 18 permitting channel 46 of nozzle 14 to communicate directly with conduit 42 of cover 18 as supporter 22 is moved to the left. In this manner, as seen in FIG. 4, the direction of emerging flame is changed from vertical cigarette and cigar use to horizontal pipe use.

In the second and third embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6, conduits 48 and 50 take the form of bores located within nozzles 52 and 54, respectively. While conduit 48 of FIG. 5 is located at the tip of burner nozzle 52, conduit 50 of FIG. 6 is spaced downwardly along nozzle 54.

Conduit 48 of FIG. 5 may constitute merely a furrow while conduit 58 of FIG. 6 resembles a bore. In operation, when the tips of nozzles 52 and 54 are encompassed by covers 56 and 58 respectively, flow of properly depressurized fuel in the horizontal direction for pipe lighting is achieved. However, as covers 56 and 58 are moved to the right uncovering burner nozzles 52 and 54, the major flow of fuel is in the vertical direction for lighting cigarettes and cigars.

A fourth embodiment of the flame deflecting system is illustrated in FIG. 7 wherein the conduit 60 of cover 62. is in the form of a bore, one end thereof discharging horizontally while the other end being located in communication with burner nozzle 64.

As illustrated in the remaining embodiments of FIGS. 9-11 the cover may be mounted for either horizontal or vertical rotation about a selected axis, as contrasted to the rectilinear sliding motion of those embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-8. While the covers 70 and 72 of FIGS. 10 and 11 are mounted about rods 74 and 75, which may be attached to a horizontal surface of the gas lighter as desired, cover 76 of FIG. 9 is mounted upon rod 78 which may be attached, as desired, to a side or vertical wall of the gas lighter. While the rods 74 and 75 of FIGS. 10 and 11 might be attached to wall 20 of FIG. 1, rod 78 of FIG. 9 might be attached to wall 21, for example. In operation, cover 76 of FIG. 9 swings in a vertical plane about rod 78. In the position shown in FIG. 9, with cover 76 resting directly upon nozzle 80, horizontal flame emerges through conduit 82 in similar manner to the operation disclosed in FIG. 5. In both FIGS. 10 and 11, covers 70 and 72 swing in a horizontal plane about rods 74 and 75, respectively. In the positions shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, horizontal flame emerges from conduits 84 and 86 in a fashion similar to the operation disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 7, respectively. Vertical flame is achieved in FIG. 9 as cover 76 is pivoted vertically upward so as to uncover passageway 88 of nozzle 80. In similar manner, vertical flame is achieved in FIGS. l0-11 as covers 70 and 72 are pivoted horizontally to uncover passageways 88 of nozzles 80. Simplicity of construction is achieved in the embodiments of FIGS. 911 as change of direction of flame from vertical to horizontal may be achieved by direct movement of the covers 70, 72 and 76, thus eliminating the necessity of utilizing actuating assemblies with levers.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the operation of the present invention may be briefly summarized with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. After snuffer cap 16 is flipped open permitting gaseous fuel to be emitted from burner nozzle 14, lighting is achieved by striking the flint wheel by turning gear 12. If desiring to light either a cigarette or cigar, no further action is necessary as the flame will be emitted vertically from burner nozzle 14 as seen in FIG. 2. If a pipe is to be lighted, supporter or actuating assembly 22 is merely moved from right to left, as seen in FIG. 1, with resultant diverting of flame from vertical to horizontal. As lighting is completed the cover 18 is moved to the right by 4 pushing finger piece 34 in that direction, permitting snuffer cap 16 to close properly.

Manifestly, alternative construction and varying design of flame deflecting technique may be employed without departing from the scope of invention, as defined in the subjoined claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a gas fueled lighter of the type having a sparking assembly and burner nozzle, the combination therewith of a flame diverting system, comprising a covering device attached to said lighter with supporting and actuating means for removing same relative to said burner nozzle in covering and uncovering relationship therewith, said flame diverting system further including conduit means insuring passage of gas from said nozzle to said covering device and horizontal discharge of flame from said covering device when positioned in covering relationship therewith.

2. A flame diverting system as in the gas fueled lighter of claim 1, wherein said conduit means is located entirely within said covering device.

3. A flame diverting system as in the gas fueled lighter of claim 1, wherein said conduit means is located entirely within said burner nozzle.

4. A flame diverting system as in the gas fueled lighter of claim 1, wherein said conduit means lies partially within said covering device and partially within said burner nozzle.

5. A variable flame gas fueled lighter, comprising:

(A) a casing having a reservoir constructed to hold fuel under pressure;

(B) a burner nozzle mounted on said casing, said nozzle being in communication with said reservoir;

(C) flow regulating means for selectively regulating the flow of fuel through said burner nozzle as desired;

(D) a spark producing mechanism mounted on said casing; and

(E) a flame deflecting system, attached to said casing and constituting an integral part thereof, including (i) a covering device,

(ii) supporting and actuating means for insuring movement of said covering device along said casing relative to said burner nozzle in covering and uncovering relationship therewith, and

(iii) conduit means for insuring the passage of gas from said nozzle to said covering device and horizontal discharge of flame from said covering device as same is moved in covering rela tionship with respect to said burner nozzle.

4/ 1951 Van T011. 3/ 1958 Gruber 677.1

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A GAS FUELED LIGHTER OF THE TYPE HAVING A SPARKING ASSEMBLY AND BURNER NOZZLE, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF A FLAME DIVERTING SYSTEM, COMPRISING A COVERING DEVICE ATTACHED TO SAID LIGHTER WITH SUPPORTING AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR REMOVING SAME RELATIVE TO SAID BURNER NOZZLE IN COVERING AND UNCOVERING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH, SAID FLAME DIVERTING SYSTEM FURTHER INCLUDING CONDUIT MEANS INSURING PASSAGE OF GAS FROM SAID NOZZLE TO SAID COVERING DEVICE AND HORIZONTAL DISCHARGE OF FLAME FROM SAID COVERING DEVICE WHEN POSITIONED IN COVERING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH. 